9 great moments for women in 2017

Do you remember how, at the start of this year, we were all waxing lyrical about how much 2016 sucked arse, and how 2017 just HAD to be better.

Hahahahahaha joke was well and truly on us. Well played, universe. You are a salty mistress…

I’m not a massive believer in a black and white appraisal of a year being good or bad – there are always ups and downs to every year, but 2017 sure did have some moments of blowing massive chunks as far as I’m concerned.

2017 is a prime number, of course, which was always going to give it seriously bad juju, and 2018 is so pleasant and rounded. I’m calling that a sign that there are great times ahead.

But as 2017 comes to a close (don’t let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya), and we prepare ourselves for a fresh and new 2018 – sort of like clean sheet day, mmmmmmm – we thought we’d look back and find some things to drink to.

Here’s some great moments for women that had us raising a glass this year:

Marriage Equality

Despite having to go through the stupidest waste of money in Australian political history, Marriage Equality is now a reality. Sure, we can talk about who did what and why that whole process was destructive, but we’ve got it now and we’re looking forward to loads of rainbow weddings next year. Also, we cry every single time we see Penny cry. Let’s take another look. Oh, Penny. xx

WAFL storms the nation

Not only did we see the dawn of a kick-arse women’s AFL comp, we saw massive crowds gathering to take in some seriously impressive athleticism and skills. My 5-year-old daughter still just wants to be a ballerina, but now she knows she could play football if she wanted to.

Sophie Monk is the Bachelorette

Never has reality TV been more compelling, more entertaining, or more real. Australia fell in love with Sophie and, although we questioned some of her choices (we’ll never forget you, Luke), we still want to drink chardonnay and say fuck with her any day of the week.

“Nevertheless she persisted” becomes a feminist catch-cry

Image credit: Instagram @traceyspicer

Was that this year? I know! As Senator Elizabeth Warren debated Jeff Sessions’ appointment as Attorney General on the Senate Floor, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell cut her off and stopped her from reading a letter from Coretta Scott King. Later, describing the incident and reprimanding Warren, McConnell said, “Senator Warren was giving a lengthy speech. She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted.” How dare she. What a bolshy broad. If you want to wear it on your cans, you can grab your “nevertheless” shirt here.

Tracey Spicer feminists all over the place

Tracey Spicer getting out and about signing her awesome book The Good Girl Stripped Bare in ALL OF OUR TEES!!!! Oh Em Geeeeeee. Image credit: Instagram @traceyspicer

Tracey released her memoir and feminist tome The Good Girl Stripped Bare, unapologetically exposing misogyny in the media industry and championing the idea of women helping other women to succeed. Plus she made us laugh, cry and love her a whole lot. Mamamia even named her their woman of the year.

#metoo becomes global movement

Women everywhere said out loud – sometimes for the first time – that they had been harassed and abused by men in positions of power. While nobody was surprised that EVERY WOMAN IN THE WORLD put her hand up, it was a watershed moment because shining a light and naming names is like throwing a bucket of water over the Wicked Witch of the West. We watched some seriously connected dudes melt under the public glare, and we hope – oh, how we hope – that this is the year we’ll look back on as the year the power truly started to shift.

Serena Williams wins the Australian Open

Image credit: Instagram @serenawilliams

Nothing new there, she’s done it six times before – but this time she did it while pregnant with her daughter Olympia. AND she’s planning on returning to defend her title next month. If she’s not the greatest athlete we’ve ever seen, I don’t know who is. BAD. ASS.

Wonder Woman kicks arse

Not only was Gal Gadot the absolute tits in this film as the tough and super-hot super hero, but the film became the highest-grossing superhero origin movie of all time. Suck on that Spiderdude.

#letherspeak makes women high-five each other

Eminently qualified physicist Veronika Hubeny was the only woman on a panel titled “Pondering the Imponderable: The Biggest Questions of Cosmology” but when she tried to answer questions, she was talked over by host Jim Holt. Gutsy spectator Marilee Talkington shouted what lots of women in the room were thinking: “Let her speak, please.” Because she’s a polite feminist. Twitter loses its shit. We even made a t-shirt to celebrate.